Omaha daily bee., 1887-09-27
SISTERS HOSPITAL OPEN.
A Modest Start With the Promise Of q
Useful Future.
TALKS TO THE RAILROAD MEN
A Dastardly Attempt to Wreck the
Northwestern Passenger Trains
A Trotting Trial-A Ruraiist
COnfldenced.
Among the Railroads.

among tne 1tatIrOauSs
Rev. Thomas Mackay's address to the
railroad men at St. PauPs Episcopal
church Sunday evening was very able
effort, and the large congregation pres
ent were we'll repaid for their attend
ance.
The modern locomotive was regarded
by the speaker as the perfect embodiment
OF the leviathan, described in Job Al.
The tendency of the present age is to
annihilate time, and we are, essentially,
fast people. Under only one condition
can the average American take his time; |;
on dining car going at the rate OF fifty
miles an hour.
When the inventor of the locomotive
claimed for it speed of ten miles his
assertions we're laughed at, yet five or six
times that speed is now regarded as
standard time. What are the possibili-
ties of the future? As we reclne in the
luxurious sleeping car how often do we
think of the clear brain and steady hand
that is guiding the iron horse as we rush
along through the dark kness like a meteor
he is paid for doing? Is he not entitled
to our heartfelt gratitude? Had his vigi-
lance relaxed for a single moment
what might have been the result9
The culvert washed out by the
swollen stream, the broken rail,
the bridge destroyed by the unseen fire
are all dangers that must be averted by
the constant watchfulness of the en-
gincer. What are our feelings as, after
the shrill scream of the whistle for
down brakes" the heavy train comes
to stop. we go forward and find the
trucks hanging over a deep gorge?
Would we not kiss those grlmy hands
whose prompt action has prevented our
headlong rush to certain deathY Nor
are such acts Of bravery and heroism
confined 70 the engineer. What were
the feelings of that switchman as he
threw the lever, that the loaded train
might not leave the rails, rather than, in
obedience to the paternal promptings of
his heart, snatch his little one from
before the fast approaching train? Was
the struggle between love and duty any
the less bitter because, in obedience to
mis- command to "lie down. the train
passed over her in safety? But it is not
that the world may see and applaud,
that these acts are done. These heroic
men climb the slippery cars, or make
the dangerous coupling in the midnight
darkness, and die with no one to see
praise that justly belongs to them. Of
tentimes poorly paid and robbed even of
their sleep, give them pleasant
word as you meet them, and do what you
can to make their lives easier. To the
railroad men would say, you need re-
ligion. There is no class of men, unless
it is the soldiers, who need 1t more
than you do. Carrying your lives in
your hands as you do, not knowing at
what moment you may be called upon to
meet your God, 1t especially behooves
you to be ready at any time. Religion
will also teach you faithfulness to duty.
and without that you can never succeed.
The establishment in this city of a
boarding house and reading room for
railroad men was advocated, as the
saloons are the places most open for them
in their business hours.
A tenor solo was rendered by Mr.. 1. M.
Trainer, at the close of the address, with
pleasing effect.